Flat casing electric hand lamp and switch therefor



Nov. 18, 1952 R, H; BEM/15 2,618,737

FLAT CASING ELECTRIC HAND LAMP AND SWITCH THEREFOR Filed OCI'.. l0, 1947 FIG. I FIG. 4

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|NVENTOR RUDOLPH H. Bem/ls ZW ...JW

/ ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 18, 1952 FLAT CASING ELECTRIC HAND LAMP AND SWITCH THEREFOR Rudolph H. Beavis, Branford, Conn., assignor to Olin Industries, Inc.

Application October 10, 1947, Serial No. 779,178

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to hand lamp switch, and more particularly to a miniature hand lamp adapted to be carried in the users pocket or in a handbag.

Various constructions of miniature hand lamps have heretofore been proposed but they are generally open to one of several objections. As such hand lamps are only employed for a limited number of purposes, it is essential that they be produced at low cost, necessitating a lamp of simple construction. In addition, they must have a certain amount of ruggedness to insure that the parts will not be broken or displaced in handling. The lamp of the present invention is of simple construction and, in addition, the relatively small number of parts are so constructed and arranged that the probability of breakage or displacement is small.

In carrying out the invention, I provide a casing of a size and shape to receive two miniature or pen light dry cells with the open top of the casing projecting slightly above the top of the cells. I further provide a head, preferably of molded plastic material, that ts in the top of the casing. One end of the head is shaped to receive a bulb with the base of the bulb projecting to bring the base terminal in engagement with the center electrode of one of the cells when the parts are assembled. The other end of the head is provided with a portion curved on the radius of a circle. A switch member, comprising an arcuate strip of metal, is arranged on the inside of the curved portion and is connected to a switch operating member or button on the outside of the curved portion. One end of the arcuate switch is in engagement with the zinc electrode and the other end is adapted to be moved into, and out of, engagement with the outer terminal of the bulb to open and close the circuit.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, parts being shown in section;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal, sectional View on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a detailed, sectional view on line 5--5 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing I provide a casing I which is formed of a conducting material, preferably metal. 'I'he casing is provided with front and back walls 2 and 3, which are preferably flat, and with curved end walls ll. It is of a size and shape to snugly receive a pair of miniature dry cells 5 and 6 with the open top of the casing projecting above the top of the cells when the cells are in position as shown in Fig. 2.

The cell 5 is arranged with its center electrode I at the top as shown. The bottom 8 of the zinc can, which forms the other electrode of the cell, engages a spring 9 which is supported on a rivet I0 mounted in the bottom of the casing, as shown. This urges the cell 5 upwardly in the casing to insure good contact between the center electrode I and the base terminal of the lamp bulb. In alignment with the bottom of the cell 6 the bottom of the casing is offset inwardly to provide a projection II. As shown, the cell 6 is inserted with its center electrode I2 downwardly so that when the circuit is completed through the lamp and switch, the two cells are arranged in series.

A head I3, preferably of molded plastic and of a shape to be received in the open top of the casing, supports the lamp bulb and the switch member. As shown, one side or end of the head is provided with a cylindrical portion I4 to receive lamp bulb I5. The outer end of this cylindrical portion is dome shaped as indicated at I6 and is provided with a central opening Il in alignment with the bulb to permit the light to pass from the lamp. The interior of the cylindrical portion of the head is provided with a plurality of lugs I8 (see Fig. 4) which contact the threaded stem I9 of the bulb to hold it in position.

The remainder of the head comprises a portion 20 which is curved on the radius of a circle on both its inner and outer surfaces. A switch member 2l, which is curved on the same radius throughout the greater portion of its length, is arranged in a groove 2|' on the inside of this curved portion of the head. One end 22 of this member is slightly offset to provide better connection between it and the exterior of the bulb and the other end is attened as at 23 to insure better contact with the bottom of the zinc can of cell 6 when the switch is in closed position. A switch operating member or button 24 is arranged on the outside of the curved portion 20 of the head and this member is provided with tabs 25 passing through slots 26 in the head and secured around the inner side of the switch member 2| as indicated at 21 (see Fig. 5).

The portion of the head adjacent its lower end is reduced in cross section forming a shoulder 28 to limit its movement into the top of the 3 casing. The front and rear walls of the casing are provided with indents 29 adapted to be received in correspondingly positioned grooves or recesses 30 in the reduced portion of the head. While the lamp will function with the head arranged either in the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, or in a reversed position, a more reliableV contact is obtained if the parts are arranged as shown so that the base terminal of the lamp engages the center electrode 1 of the cell 5 and the switch member engages the bot--A tom of the zinc can of cell 6. To insure posi-- tioning the head in this way, I therefore'provi'de an indentation 30 on one of the end Walls adapted to ybe received in a similarly shaped groove in the reduced por-tion of the head.

The operation of the deviceY will be apparent from the foregoing description. In Fig. 1 of the drawing the lamp is shown in the oi position withv the end 22 of the switchmember out of engagement with the bulb. To close the switch, the button 2li is moved counter-clockwise in Fig. 2, this movement being limited by the length of the slots 2t. Movement ofth'e button moves'the switch member causing thel end 22 to engage the exterior shell of the bulb. The oth'e'r end 23 is movediwith a wiping Contact across the bottom -of the cell E; and, when in closed position, the nattened end 23- is` in en'gagernentv with the cell terminal insuring good contact. The bend or vkinkY to produce the flattened end' 23 al'soacts Vas a`- detent toretain the switch member in its on o'r oi position, andth-us minimizes the possibility of accidentally changing its position.

The arrangement' of'the switch is such that theA lamp may be held in tlie hand between-the nngers and the switch operated by th'e thumb. Thus, the lamp is not onlyo very simple` construction and of relatively fewpartsybut italso readily accommodates itself to-u's'ei attizne's when such type of lamp is generally used, such as in lighting' up a keyhole Ywhen-the u'serhas'a key or bunch of keys in-hiso'ther hand'.

I claim: I y

` 1i. A hand lamp-comprising a casing, a dry cell battery therein having its terminalsadjac'ent the top'of the casing, a head' of insulating marenali in the topi cfltheeasng; the hea-d having f asubstantially cylindric alf portionto receive a '4 lamp bulb, a lamp bulb arranged therein with its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the casing, a base terminal and a side terminal on the lamp bulb, the base terminal engaging one or" the terminals of the battery, another portion of the head being provided with an inner cylindrical surface having its axis perpendicular to -the longitudinal axis of the casing, and a curved switch member following the contour of and slidable on said cylindrical curved surface, the curved switch member consisting of an arc of less than 360 and being bodily mov- Vable to bring one of its ends into and out of. en-

gagement with the side terminal of the lamp bulb, the other end of the switch member wiping' over and remaining in contact with the terminal of the battery.

`2. A device constructed in accordance with claim 1 wherein a switch operating member is arranged on the outside of the curved portion of the head and connected to the switch member.

3. A device in accordance with claim l wherein the substantially cylindrical lamp receiving portion of the head is provided with projections to engage the side terminal on the lamp bulb.

4". VA device in accordance with claim lwherein Vtlieerid ofthe' switch member which engages Vthe battery terminal is natt'enedto make' a wiping contact with the battery terminal and to serve asa detent to releasably maint/ain the switch member in either of its two positions.

RUDOLPH H. BEAVIS.

Y REFERENCES' CTED The following references areY of record in the le' of this* patent:

ITU. STATES PATENTS 

